Javier Báez Still Not 100% Prompts Move To 3B, Kris Bryant Back In Lineup
To start off, Kris Bryant is back!!! Bryant missed the first two games against the Astros after a nasty collision with Jason Heyward during Sunday’s series finale against the Reds at Wrigley Field. With Bryant at DH, Joe Maddon is starting Addison Russell at shortstop once again, with David Bote at second. Javier Báez, who’s […]
To start off, Kris Bryant is back!!!
Bryant missed the first two games against the Astros after a nasty collision with Jason Heyward during Sunday’s series finale against the Reds at Wrigley Field.
With Bryant at DH, Joe Maddon is starting Addison Russell at shortstop once again, with David Bote at second. Javier Báez, who’s been dealing with a heel injury, is back in the field, but starting at third base.
Why?
Well, Báez still isn’t 100% and at this point the Cubs want to limit how much he has to move as much as possible. Maddon discussed that on Tuesday.
Báez was the DH in the first two games down in Houston.
So, with Bryant back, the lineup is looking more normal, with Anthony Rizzo, Báez and Willson Contreras following him, making it a very strong 2-5.
Wade Miley will face the Cubs and he was pretty solid against them last year, when he was with the Brewers. In two starts, Miley allowed three earned runs on seven hits in 11 innings.
Kyle Hendricks will try and stabilize the starting rotation that has really struggled in the past few weeks. Hendricks was spectacular in his first three starts in May, but has cooled off in his last two. Yet, against the Reds he did have a quality start, allowing three runs in six innings. Unfortunately the Cubs bullpen blew that game.
So, hopefully Hendricks can be the stopper and Bryant cane bring more consistency,, although the offense hasn’t really been the problem down in Houston.
So far this season the Cubs are 0-4 without Bryant.